Kelp-harvester.



A. H. Finn/IAN. 1

KELP HARvEsER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1S, 1913.

1,200,096., Patented 0015.v v3, 1916.

IN VEN TOR ARTHUR H. FIRMAN, on Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AssIGNoRTo'AMnnIcAN-POTASH co., INC., or Los ANGELES, cALIroRNIA.

HELP-HARVESTER. u

Leccese.

Specification ofv Letters Patent.

l.appie-,anon sied Jane ie, 1913. serial No. 773,841.

State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements inKelp-Harvesters, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to apparatus for harvesting kelp.

The object of the invention isfto provide a kelp harvester comprising avessel or float capable of movement over the water, and having submergedcutters ,'for cutting the kelp from the beds.

. of the present invention.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combinationof parts as Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through avessel, showing the essential parts Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thesame. Fig. 3 is 'a plan of a 1 portion of a horizontal cutter.- Fig. 4is a detail in partial section ofthe mounting for a vertical cutter.

A represents a boat or float of any appro- .priate description. t

2 is a power shaft extending athwart ship, connected with anyappropriate motive power near its center. Adjacent each end of the shaft2 is a clutch 3 for engagement with a complementary clutch member. -iwhich connects w1th a corresponding wristpin 5 by which a verticalcutter G is operated in a -Inanner shortly to be described.

7 are horizontal cutters which are also operated from shaft 2 by thefollowing means: Power is transmitted from shaft to the counter-shafts 8by suitable means, l as clutch 1'() operative in unison with acorrespending clutch 3 by any suitable clutch shifting mechanism. Eachclutch 10 is adapted to engage a normally idle clutch member -11connected to drive a beveled gear 12, which latter meshes a companiongear 13 on a vertical shaft 14 which latter carries'respectivehorizontal cutters 7. Each the tubingf.` 15.

Each counter-shaft 8 carries a" ends of the vertical'cutters 6 beingmounted I on sleeves 17, which Avslide up and down on Any suitablemeans, not y necessary to be shown, may be employedto',A

prevent the sleeves VH17 turning on'the tubing The vertical `cutters.are connected with the respective Wrist-pins 5 by. means of the pitman18.l The horizontal cutters 7 are of any appropriate construction,pref-A erably being of thin, flexible steel sharp on vthe cutting edgeto separate the kelp in its revolving motion. The vertical cutters areserrated and are similar toany grain cutting apparatus and operated'bydirect reclprocating motion. 1

It will be understood that thereis a. horizontal cutter 7v and thatthere is a vertical cutter (l at each side of the boat;l the horizontalcutters' extending underneath the boat, so that practically the entirearea beneath the boat and to a 4considerable distance on each side ofthe vessel Will be with' in the zone of the cutting apparatus. That isto say, in actual practice with a boat of a 10g ft. beam, I have usedcutters 12 ft, in dia-meter, .thus giving a 24 swath; the horizontalcutters being l'ocatedat a ,depth of one fathombelow the surface, andthe vertical cutters being located about 12 ft. apart.

The foregoing construction constitutes a cutting apparatuswhich cuts themarine growth below the surface of the watery horizontally; theperpendicular cutters sepa' ratiugthe horizontal strands so as to freethe kelp and allow its ultimate recovery.

ly the term floating support employed in the claims,y I mean anysuitabley barge, boat or float, either self-propelled or towed. orotherwise lmoved through the water and 'ov'cr the kelp beds.

borne', by theysupport in substantaljlinement With the center of thehorizontal cutter, and means for actuating the cutters.

v port sides,

. erating them from the same source 3. In a kelp harvester, incombination with a floating support, a pair of submerged horizontalcutters arranged `to underliethe support and to have parts that extendsubstantially thereacross and beyond the supvertical cutters coperatingwith said parts of the horizontal cutters that extend beyond the sidesof ythe support and means to operate the cutters.

4. In a kelp harvester, the combination with a floating support, a pairof submerged orizontal cutters extending underneath the vessel from eachside with means for supporting and operating the same from the vessel,and complementary vertical cutters at the side ofl the vessel, and meansfor opof power.

5. In a kelp harvester, Ain combination with a vessel,v a pair ofhorizontal rotary cutters which underlie `the vessel and extend acrossthe beam and beyonc` the sides of the vessel, a vertical reciprocatingcutter alined with the center of each` of the rotary cutters, and meansfor operating all of the cutters.

6. In a kelp harvester, a vertically reciprocatory cutter, a horizontalrotary cutter underlying the cutter, and means to actuate said cuttersin unison.

7. In a kelp harvester, a vertical shaft, a horizontal cutter on thelower end of said shaft, a tubular member surrounding said shaft,sleeves vertically reciprocable on said member, a vertical cutterconnected to said sleeves, means to reciprocate said vertical cutter onsaid lower `end of the vertical tubular member, and means .t/o/y rotatesaf""`sllaft l`l uiitlin-said tubular member.

8. In a kelp harvester, zontal cutter, a vertically reciprocable cutter,and a member which, bothl rotatably supports said horizontal cutterand'slidablysupports said vertical cutter, and means te actuate thecutters."

9. In a kelp harvester tor vessels, a pair of submerged rotary cuttershorizontally a rotatable hori-' disposed and arranged so thatthey extendff throughout the extent of terhe. beam.: of the vessel.

10. In a kelp harvester for veels, a pair of rotary cutters horizontallydisposed and arranged so that the extent ofthe beam of the vessel.,'anda pair of vertically-reciprocal cutters mounted on 'opposite sides ofthe vessel.

l 11. In a kel-p harvester for vessels, a pair oit rotary cuttershorizontally disposed-and arranged so that they.V extend-.throughout theextent of? the beam "of the vessel, and a pair of vertically reciprocalcutters mounted on opposite sides of the vessel, and arranged at thecenters of the rotary cutters,

12. In a kelp harvester for vessels, horiv,zontal rotary cuttersextending' throughout the extent of the vessel beam., and verticalcutters at the sides of the ',-wi'rssel and arranged over the horizontalcutters.

In testimony whereof I la: 'e hereunto set my hand in the presence or wosubscribing- Witnesses.

ARTHUR n. rinMaN.

lVitnesses l R. M. MARSHALL., LAURETTA DAYLIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C.

they extend throughout 1H

